503 stories by Larry Henry
Lake Tahoe Evacuation Lifted, Some Casinos Remain Closed, But Bears In Homes
Evacuation orders on the California and Nevada sides of Lake Tahoe were downgraded to warnings over the weekend, allowing thousands of residents to return. But with the Caldor Fire still burning, some casinos at the lake remained closed during the normally busy...
Las Vegas Leads Large US Metros in Unemployment
Tourism-dependent Las Vegas continues to lead the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in unemployment, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In July, unemployment in the Las Vegas metropolitan area reached 9.4 percent, the highest in the US for any metro area...
Nevada Casinos Reminded Masks Required During Labor Day Weekend
The Nevada Gaming Control Board said this week it will enforce the casino mask mandate over the Labor Day weekend. The board noted “disciplinary action” could result if employees and visitors go maskless. In the Sept. 3 statement, board Chairman J. Brin...
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak Allows Vaccinated Conventioneers to Shed Masks
Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has issued a directive exempting Nevada conventions from COVID-19 mask requirements if all in attendance are vaccinated. Large special events in Las Vegas usually are held at the Convention Center or local casinos. Under the governor’s directive, event...
Casinos Close as Wildfire Nears South Lake Tahoe
The gaming floors at the major casinos on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore were closed this week as a raging wildfire inched to within three miles of the mostly vacated lakeside communities. With smoke and ash from the Caldor Fire shrouding the lake,...
New Orleans Casinos Still Closed After Ida Knocks Out City’s Electricity
Casinos in the New Orleans area remained closed on Wednesday, three days after destructive Hurricane Ida toppled utility lines, knocking out power in the city. The four New Orleans-area major gambling halls still were closed during the middle of the week because...
Bull Riders Move Marquee Event from Las Vegas Strip to Texas
The Professional Bull Riders World Finals event is relocating next year from the Las Vegas Strip to Fort Worth, Texas. Sean Gleason, Professional Bull Riders’ CEO and commissioner, said the move to North Texas allows the league “to hold our crown jewel,...
Massive Wildfire Forces Evacuations at Smoke-Shrouded Lake Tahoe
Thousands of Lake Tahoe residents and visitors continued to flee the raging Caldor Fire, as flames threatened the popular casino and outdoor-recreation destination only days before the normally busy Labor Day weekend. In Nevada, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) declared a state of...
New Orleans Casinos Closed in Hurricane Ida’s Aftermath
Casinos in New Orleans remained closed Monday in Hurricane Ida’s wake, as the city and surrounding region experienced a massive power outage. East of New Orleans, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the storm surge swamped a casino garage and flooded streets along that state's...
Hot Springs Casino Offers Pay Raises for Vaccinated Employees
An Arkansas hotel-casino is giving pay raises to employees who are inoculated against the coronavirus. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is raising the minimum wage for vaccinated non-tipped employees to $16 an hour, and to $8.50 an hour for those who receive tips,...
